Under the auspices of Santa’s Sleigh we’re taking on a new, simple effort this year — something we call Operation Christmas Cheer.There is a hymn the words of which describe what we’re trying to accomplish here:
Have I done any good in the world today? Have I helped anyone in need?
Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad?
If not, I have failed indeed.
Has anyone’s burden been lighter today
Because I was willing to share?
Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way?
When they needed my help was I there?
Operation Christmas Cheer aims to make this holiday season brighter for some folks who might not be able to enjoy it as in years past.
The inspiration for this, candidly, is my Mom, who has seen her world become smaller and smaller in recent years due to declining health. Last year we were able, after much effort, to get her into my home for a few hours at Christmas time and she greatly admired the dozens and dozens of Christmas cards our family received via our annual Christmas card exchange.
Wistfully she told me, in the Spirit of It’s a Wonderful Life, “No man is a failure who has friends”.
Wouldn’t it be great if we could send cards to folks like my Mom? It would just make her Christmas.
So that’s exactly what we are going to do. As part of our Christmas Card Exchange this year we will be providing a small list of about 10 names and addresses of folks who are shut in or otherwise can’t enjoy the warm well wishes of the holiday season.
Working with local contacts we will identify such folks and get a little information about them — and we will INCLUDE them in this year’s exchange.
Naturally, we want as many to participate in this gentle kind of Christmas giving as possible.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SIGN UP for the Christmas Card Exchange. Click the link above, and you’re in.
If you have a candidate who you believe could benefit from Operation Christmas Cheer please contact me personally. There are some sensitive issues in handling this kind of project and we know what to do — it is what Santa’s Sleigh does every year. If we have a local contact — a member of the clergy, a senior community administrator, a Church or Service organization official to work with this becomes an easy thing to accomplish.
Please join us in launching something new for Santa’s Sleigh this year — Operation Christmas Cheer!